Morocco’s former head of government Abdelilah Benkirane announces breakup with PJD

The former head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane has moved to action after the government adopted, Thursday, Bill 13-21 on the legalization of cannabis use in Morocco. 

In a handwritten letter published on his Facebook page, the former secretary general of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) announced that he is freezing his membership at said party and ending his relationship with a number of its leaders, including the head of government Saadeddine El Othmani.

The list includes Mustapha Ramid, Aziz Rebbah and Mohamed Amekraz, in addition to the former minister Lahcen Daoudi.

At the beginning of March, Abdelilah Benkirane threatened to freeze his membership in the party if the general secretariat of the political movement approved this bill, and to leave the PJD if its elected representatives voted this text in Parliament. His reaction encouraged other party members to respond, such as Hassan Hamourou, a member of the party's National Council who said he shared the same position.

However, Saadeddine El Othmani visited him on Tuesday to make him change his position on this bill. Speaking to Yabiladi on Thursday, Abdelilah Benkirane said that his «position is still the same and [he] will not back down».